The number of farmers and farm products sellers who support import curbs on three agricultural products overwhelmed those against the action in written comments sent to the government, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry said Thursday.
The government is investigating whether to extend the curbs, and accepting written comments from the public is a required procedure under World Trade Organization rules.
The imports concerned -- of stone leeks, shiitake and tatami straw -- come mainly from China.
All 1,628 comments called for import curbs on stone leeks and shiitake mushrooms, while all except four called for restrictions on tatami straw, according to the ministry.
At least 2,852 of the comments were from domestic producers.
The government is invoking 200-day temporary import curbs for the three products to November 8.
Special tariffs are allowed under WTO rules as an emergency measure to protect domestic producers from surging imports.
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